NZQA Expiring unit standard
17491 version 6
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Title
Demonstrate basic knowledge of telecommunications outside plant
and equipment
Level
3
Purpose
Credits
20
This unit standard covers basic underpinning knowledge
necessary for people employed in installation and maintenance
of telecommunications outside plant and equipment.
People credited with this unit standard are able to demonstrate:
–
basic knowledge of underlying concepts of outside plant
networks;
–
basic knowledge of the structure and properties of
telecommunications cables;
–
telecommunications cable jointing practices;
–
basic knowledge of telecommunications outside plant
installation and construction practices;
–
basic knowledge of telecommunications building frames,
cabinets and enclosures, and service entrance and
termination practices;
–
basic knowledge of telecommunications cable faultfinding, test, and repair procedures;
–
basic knowledge of telecommunications outside plant
plans, specifications, and documentation; and
–
an awareness of emerging technologies in
telecommunications outside plant.
Classification
Telecommunications > Telecommunications - Service Delivery
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard has been designed for learning and assessment off-job.
2
The term basic knowledge is used to describe the underpinning knowledge required
by trainees to support the range of practical installation and maintenance activities
assessed by Unit 17485, Install and maintain basic telecommunications outside plant
and equipment. This knowledge is typically acquired during second and third years
of training of a 4 to 5 year training programme.
3
References
Building Act 2004
Electricity Act 1992;
Electricity Regulations 1997;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, and associated regulations;
Local Body regulations;
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17491 version 6
Page 2 of 6
and their subsequent amendments and replacements.
4
Definitions
Cable – any or all of copper cable, fibre optic cable, coaxial cable.
Emerging technology – any technology which is at the development stage, or in early
stages of production and commercial use overseas, but is not yet used commercially
in New Zealand.
Industry practice – those practices, which competent practitioners within the industry
recognise as current industry best practice.
MDF – Main Distribution Frame.
Outside plant – that portion of the telecommunications network which generally
extends from exchange switch to the point of entry at customers’ premises.
PSTN – Public Switched Telephone Network.
Specifications – any or all of: detailed job specifications, drawings, and instructions;
manufacturers’ specifications and instructions; and industry codes of practice relating
to the type of cabling system being installed.
5
The depth of knowledge of the subject matter is such as could typically be learnt
during a six week full-time course.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate basic knowledge of underlying concepts of outside plant networks.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Outside plant networks are identified and described in terms of the services
delivered.
Range
1.2
cable systems, PSTN, data network services.
Outside plant networks are described in terms of their components.
Range
aerial cable, underground cable, building frames, MDFs, service
entrances, pair gain systems, manholes and duct systems,
cabinets.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate basic knowledge of the structure and properties of telecommunications
cables.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Physical properties of commonly used copper cables are described in nonmathematical terms.
Range
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
cables – paper and plastic insulation, unit twin, quads, lead
sheath, plastic sheath, aerial cable, drop wire;
physical properties – construction, structure, materials, wire and
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17491 version 6
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cable size, pair lay-up.
2.2
Electrical properties of copper cable pairs are described in non-mathematical
terms with reference to one type of cable.
Range
properties – loop resistance, insulation resistance, transmission
loss, noise, variation of loss with frequency.
2.3
Coaxial cable is described with reference to construction, materials, physical
and electrical properties.
2.4
Fibre optic cable is described with reference to construction, materials, physical
and electrical properties.
2.5
The use of cable numbering systems is explained in accordance with industry
practice.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate telecommunications cable jointing practices.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Cables are prepared for jointing in accordance with industry practice.
3.2
Pairs are jointed and insulated in accordance with industry practice.
Range
3.3
random jointing; sequence jointing; modular jointing using one
type of tool.
Cable joints are closed in accordance with industry practice.
Range
heat shrink, lead wiping, re-enterable, pressure closure.
3.4
One type of fibre cable is jointed in accordance with industry practice.
3.5
One type of coaxial cable is jointed in accordance with industry practice.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate basic knowledge of telecommunications outside plant installation and
construction practices.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Underground enclosure construction practices are described in accordance with
industry practice.
Range
4.2
manholes, pits.
Duct installation practices are described in accordance with industry practice.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
Range
4.3
copper cable, fibre cable, coaxial cable.
Cable pressurisation practices are described in accordance with industry
practice.
Range
4.6
copper cable, fibre optic cable, coaxial cable, radio frequency
antennae.
Buried and ducted cable installation practices are described in accordance with
industry practice.
Range
4.5
trenching, thrusting, boring.
Aerial plant construction practices are described in accordance with industry
practice.
Range
4.4
17491 version 6
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standards, buried cables, ducted cables, aerial cables.
Bonding and lightning protection practices are described in accordance with
industry practice.
Range
copper cable, fibre optic cable, coaxial cable, radio frequency
antennae.
Outcome 5
Demonstrate basic knowledge of telecommunications building frames, cabinets and
enclosures, and service entrance and termination practices.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Building frames, and cabinets and enclosures are identified and described in
terms of their applications in outside plant networks in accordance with industry
practice.
Range
5.2
cable systems, PSTN, data network services.
Telecommunications service entrance and termination practices are identified
and described in accordance with industry practice.
Range
buried entrances, above ground entrances.
Outcome 6
Demonstrate basic knowledge of telecommunications cable fault-finding, test, and repair
procedures.
Evidence requirements
6.1
Basic coaxial cable fault-finding, test, and repair procedures are described and
demonstrated in accordance with industry practice.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
Range
6.2
cable, service entrance, set top units.
Basic fibre optic cable fault-finding, test, and repair procedures are
demonstrated and described in accordance with industry practice.
Range
6.3
17491 version 6
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cable, cabinets, building frames.
Basic copper cable fault-finding, test and repair procedures are described and
demonstrated in accordance with industry practice.
Range
cable, cabinets, building frames, service entrances.
Outcome 7
Demonstrate basic knowledge of telecommunications outside plant plans, specifications,
and documentation.
Evidence requirements
7.1
Plans and specifications are identified and described in terms of their role in
outside plant construction and job specification.
Range
7.2
Plans and documentation are identified and described in terms of their role in
the provision of services, and in maintenance and faultfinding.
Range
7.3
manholes, underground cable and duct plant, aerial plant, building
frames, cabinets.
cable systems, PSTN, data services.
Cable Distribution Plans, Underground Cable Plans, and duct and manhole
plans are interpreted in accordance with industry practice.
Range
interpreted – correct identification from the plans of type and
location of plant, cable pair interconnections and terminations.
Outcome 8
Demonstrate an awareness of emerging technologies in telecommunications outside plant.
Evidence requirements
8.1
Emerging technologies are briefly described with reference to purpose, facilities
offered, and how the technology will integrate with existing outside plant
facilities.
Range
any two emerging technologies which are currently of interest to
the industry.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17491 version 6
Page 6 of 6
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
30 May 2000
31 December 2016
Revision
2
3 April 2001
31 December 2016
Rollover and
Revision
3
20 April 2006
Review
4
18 July 2013
31 December 2016
Rollover
5
17 April 2014
31 December 2016
Rollover
6
16 April 2015
31 December 2018
31 December 2016
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0003
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
The Skills Organisation
SSB Code 100401
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016